Saving Grace (15 page)

Grace asked Colin to ride with Roman and her to the meeting. He’d reluctantly agreed.

“Colin, you know I’m not kicking you out of the pack. I made a suggestion but the choice is yours. You always have a home with us.” Grace tried to fight the tears. For whatever reason, his reaction had hurt her deeply.

He squeezed the steering wheel. “Grace, you are now bonded. Can you imagine losing Roman? Can you imagine while you’re still in mourning, someone asks you to be mated to a complete stranger?”

She bit her lower lip. “I’ve grown fond of you, Colin. Please trust my ancestors gave me the knowledge to help you. Re-mating is not a betrayal. Your wife would want you to stop suffering.”

He turned his head slightly toward her. “The sick part is, I know you are right. Kalinda would not want me shedding one more tear for her. It doesn’t make this any less difficult.”

“For what it’s worth, Colin, Nala has been through a lot. I doubt she’s in a hurry to be mated either. But it’s for the good of her pack. Having you there, as her mate, a former Alpha with decades of experience, it will make a difference to her and to all of the Lycans who rely on her. You’re a kind and gentle leader. This pack needs your qualities. They need your experience. Nala is going to need the man that you are next to her.”

“She’s a warrior,” Roman blurted.

Colin rolled his eyes. “Great. I’ll be healing from her constantly taking chunks out of my hind quarters.”

Roman laughed. The sound had an effect on Colin. The corners of his eyes turned up as he began to smile.

“That amuses you?” he asked with a snicker.

“Oh yes, Alpha sir. Very much, indeed.”

“Dick,” he coughed out.

Grace twisted her fingers. “So you’re not still upset with me?”

He scrunched his brow. “For a queen, you sure are worried about how I feel. Isn’t that very un-royal-like?”

She threw her hands up, huffed, and looked out the window.
Is it so bad that I care?

“I think he expects us to be a bit more stoic.”
It was the first communication from Grace’s wolf in days.

Thank God! I’ve missed you. Are you okay?

“The change was immense. We will look different when we shift. Roman will too, but you will recognize him. You are joined.”

Grace considered her wolf’s words before continuing.
Do you know my plan?

She swore her wolf was laughing at her. After the noise ceased, her wolf finally spoke.
“We are still one, Grace. I know what you know. I think what you think.”

Satisfied, she turned and looked to Colin. “I’m sorry if I’m not
stoic
enough for you. But I happen to respect you, so yes, I’m worried about how you feel.”

He looked in the rearview at Roman, who was enjoying the ride from the back seat. “Is she always like this?”

“Always.”

“I’m not mad at you, Grace,” he relented. “I’m afraid to leave my pack. I’m afraid to start over at a hundred and fifty years old. I’m afraid to have a mate that doesn’t want me. I’ve been an Alpha for so long, I have forgotten what true fear really felt like. But no, I’m not angry. As a matter of fact I think what you want to do is brilliant. I think if Nala agrees, this will do her pack some good and give her footing for maintaining her position as the first female Alpha.”

****

Grace had her briefcase, which made her look even more out of place in a castle full of Lycans. Roman held her free hand.

“I’m right here beside you, love.”

She gave him a weak smile as they were dropped off in a waiting area. Nala was there already. Grace’s jaw nearly hit the floor. Her only encounter with Nala was under bad circumstances, where she was exhausted, battered, and filthy.

The Nala that sat in the waiting area had her hair wound into a French twist. She wore a white business suit and stiletto heels. Even dressed to kill, she looked like a warrior.

“Were you always this tall?” Grace asked.

Nala nodded. “One learns to appear small so as not to attract the wrath of an abusive leader. No more of that. Now I stand tall. I stand proud. I stand Alpha.”

Colin’s jaw fell slack.

Nala turned to greet him. “You must be Colin.”

“Yes,” he stuck out his hand.

“And you’re agreeable to the arrangement our Queen has concocted?” she asked. When he didn’t immediately answer, she continued. “If you’re not agreeable, tell me now. Don’t make me look a fool in front of our High Council.”

“No, no, no—er I mean yes. I am agreeable.”

Roman and Grace held their smirks but used their connection to silently celebrate.

Colin was beside himself and Grace knew even a blind man could see it.

Nala turned to her with a raised brow. “Let’s hope your Alpha is better with words when we get in there,” she said, thumbing at the door to the meeting hall.

The door opened and they were ushered inside. Grace tried not to gawk. The walls were at least thirty feet high and sandstone. The floor was stone. There was a large fireplace next to the largest table she had ever seen.

Four men sat on one side of the table. Everyone else was led to the other side.

“We finally meet our Princess,” William said.

“Queen,” Colin corrected.

The four council members glanced at each other.

“It’s new,” Colin said with a smirk.

“Not any better with words,” Nala uttered.

“The first item of business,” a man spoke. Grace didn’t know his name. He had long grey hair tied in a ponytail. She figured he must be very old to be that grey. “Is the matter of the Scottsboro pack.”

Nala stood. “As you know, I took the life of the previous Alpha. Our Laws dictate that I am the new Alpha of my pack.”

“Yes,” Grey hair spoke again, “but you are a Lycan female. Alpha males lead Lycan packs.”

“Where is it written?” Nala asked. She kept her voice level. Grace was impressed.

“It is the way it has been for centuries,” William interjected.

“I’m glad you brought that up,” Grace said as she stood. “There was a female Alpha leader in 1565 in what is now known as The Soviet Union. She led her people until she died in battle in 1598. She remained Alpha of her pack, unchallenged by her pack mates both male and female. The only reason males take over as Alpha is a matter of tradition and I daresay, sexism.”

All four council members tightened their jaw. “This very council is a disgusting example of the blatant lack of balance. Four men. No women. That needs to change.”

Faces of three council members burned red with anger. William’s did not, instead he smiled at Grace. “That may very well be, Your Highness, however, Nala has no experience running a pack. She was not groomed by her Alpha to take over.”

Colin took his cue and stood from his chair. “Saturday, I am to wed Roman and Grace, now that their bond is sealed. After that I’m going to step down as the Belfast pack’s Alpha and move to the Scottsboro pack, where I am to be mated to Nala and offer her counsel on running a pack, but only when she needs assistance. From what my Beta has told me, Nala has demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities. She risked her life to save her pack mates. She sacrificed herself to ensure the safety and wellbeing of younger Lycan women. She challenged, fought, and defeated the previous Alpha. That is exactly what a pack needs as a leader.”

Nala’s lips curled up. Grace tried not to grin.

Grey Hair held up his hand. “We will take it under advisement.”

Grace leaned against the table and spoke in an even tone. “You’ll do no such thing. We aren’t asking for permission, rather we’re informing you of our packs’ mutual decision…as a courtesy.”

Roman, Nala, and Colin all looked at Grace in unison. This wasn’t part of the plan. She knew it, but she continued anyway. “I mean really, what are four dried up old Lycans going to do about it, anyway?”

“Insubordination will not be tolerated.” The man on the end spoke. His face was now as red as his hair.

“Insubordination? Really? How about rape? How about false imprisonment of Nala and her pack? Where were you when these atrocities were occurring? Have you any idea how many Lycan orphans there are? Do you know how many of our women have committed suicide? How do you think the other packs will react when they’re told how much time the Counsel took to come to aid, which indirectly forced Nala into an Alpha position if any of her pack were going to survive? You know nothing! Who gave you your power?”

“Several packs came together and—”

“And nothing. You have no authority. You are four dethroned Alphas and this is nothing more than a hobby.” Grace’s voice started to change. It became multilayered, with a slight echo. It made her shiver.

“Sit down!” Grey Hair yelled.

Grace looked at Roman. It was time.

Roman and Grace shifted in unison. Grace roared and stomped her paw, a paw twice the size of any Lycan. Roman did the same. They looked at each other.

They were both golden and extremely large—twice the size of a normal Lycan wolf and even
they
dwarfed a normal wolf. Their eyes glowed violet. Their fangs hung well below their snout. They were a force to be reckoned with.

As quickly as they had shifted to wolf, they shifted back.

“I do believe the Gods have given
us
the authority. You gentleman can go. You’ve been dethroned…again.” Grace stood upright and cracked her neck.

“And who is going to take our place? You?”

“Actually,” Roman answered, “Grace’s idea is that we have an actual government, a democratic one. A police of our own so that no one suffers in the same way Nala and her people have suffered. And this won’t just be a Lycan government. We aim to unify the supernatural world. It’s time for a change, gentleman, and I mean to follow my mate and my Queen into the new world.” He grabbed her hand, “But as my Queen has said, you are dismissed.”

The four of them retreated, leaving the meeting room.

“You certainly have your way of doing things, Your Highness.” Nala said with a grin. “I like it.”

“Christ, don’t call me that.”

Nala turned to Colin. “It looks like you don’t have to play mate if you don’t want to.”

Colin’s face burned red. “Actually, I’d still like to, uh, come and help if you don’t mind. I do have experience. I don’t want to be Alpha, that hasn’t changed. But I can help you. I don’t think those four are going to be the only Lycans to object to a female pack master.”

Nala looked at Grace. “If it’s not going to be a hardship for your pack, then I accept.”

Grace smiled back at her. “As long as he can come and visit, I think the arrangement will work out just fine.”

Nala joined the Kentucky pack to witness the wedding ceremony between Grace and Roman. She hated leaving her pack, but very much wanted to pay respect to Grace, who was taking charge and making a better life for all supernatural beings. She held Grace in high regard and didn’t want to miss this very important day.

“It is an important alliance,”
her wolf spoke.

More importantly, it’s our Queen.

Colin approached, ears burning red. “Thank you for coming.”

Nala offered a slight nod. “How do you feel about stepping down here?”

He ran his fingers through his thick golden locks. “It’s long overdue. I know I shouldn’t feel relieved to step down.” She noticed the sadness in his eyes. “But I haven’t been the best Alpha since losing my mate and pup.”

Nala tensed. She hadn’t thought about her arranged marriage coming with baggage, and he had quite a lot to have lost a bonded mate. Still, she maintained her composure.

“Thank you for agreeing to our mating. It could not have been an easy decision.” She studied him for his reaction.

“No. It wasn’t.” He stood a little straighter. “It’s time for the ceremony.”

She watched as he walked to the front of the hall. Even though he was not going to be the pack’s Alpha any longer, she noticed they held him in high regard, still. There were signs of respect shown as he made his way to the front.

Nala watched the binding ceremony, stowing away her envy. As the two Lycans hands were bound with a leather strap, she breathed in through her nose to quell the tears. She would never receive the adoring look Roman gave Grace. Her marriage was going to be a business arrangement. Her heart sank even further.
A loveless mating.

Colin announced them married and introduced Roman as the pack’s new Alpha. Shouting and cheers echoed through the hall.

“Beta selections will be carried out once Roman returns from officiating my ceremony in Scottsboro.” He smiled. “I would like to introduce you to what will be
my
bride.”

Nala tried to hide her shock of hearing his prideful tone and control the flutter of her own body’s response to his treasured words. She wasn’t expecting to be the center of attention, nor for Colin to make the announcement. She gave Colin a firm nod in hopes of not appearing too flustered. Though she was sure everyone could see her flattered delight as well as her confusion.

“Please give a round of applause to the new Alpha of the Scottsboro pack, and
my wife
-to-be.”

Again the room erupted, this time with mostly female cheers as the men studied her. She flexed her jaw, raising her chin high to show her doubters she was powerful even without a man.

When the commotion settled she made her way to Roman and Grace to congratulate them. What she really wanted to do was choke the shit out of Colin for catching her unprepared.

“That was quite the introduction,” Grace said with a wink.

“It was a bit much.”

Grace grabbed her hand. “Don’t be upset with Colin. He is trying to be positive. You cannot imagine how difficult of a decision it was for him to abandon his dead mate. But he believes in you. That was a demonstration of his allegiance and respect for you.”

A few sentences out of Grace and Nala had whiplash. A second ago she was full of rage. Now she felt like a pile of mashed potatoes, warm and squishy.

“Lucky for him you intervened. I was ready to issue a tongue lashing.”

Grace laughed. “Please remember he is not the enemy.”

“I’ll try not to bite…too hard.”

That caught Roman’s attention. “Did I hear something about biting?” He wiggled his eyebrows at Grace.

“Down boy,” Grace teased.

“Give him hell,” Roman playfully slugged her in the shoulder before making his way to a few Lycan’s he’d selected as candidates for Beta.

Nala spotted Colin shaking hands with an elder. She took a deep breath and blew it out before heading over to him.

No anger. Level head. Be nice.

“Do you need help packing?” She forced a smile, though she wasn’t sure if it was his benefit, or hers.

He flashed a smile in return. “In a hurry to whisk me away, are you?” He raised his brow, teasing.

Her eyes widened. Was he flirting with her?

“Just offering my services. I feel a bit…restless.” She looked around at the guests.

His white smile remained on his face as he nodded. “It’s your Alpha instincts. You feel a strong urge to get back to your pack.” He studied her momentarily. “It just confirms it for me. You’re definitely an Alpha. Since I’ve walked in those shoes, I was prepared. I am packed and ready to go.”

A man…anticipating her needs? Nala shook off her disbelief. “Very well then, whenever you’re ready.”

*

The pomp and circumstance was over. Lycans began spilling out of the hall. Grace watched Nala and Colin. They were uncomfortable with each other. There was a satisfied smile on Colin’s handsome mug and it was different. It wasn’t forced, but it wasn’t a smile she recognized. Nala stiffened.

Wonder what that was about?

“Grace, I’d very much like to talk to you about your plans.” Gustav appeared before her.

“Where have you been?” she questioned. “I expected to see you after Katarina.”

Gustav frowned. “I was in mourning for my progeny. I made her centuries ago. Losing a child is difficult, no matter how old they are.” He cleared his throat. “But I am to understand you dethroned the High Council and have plans to change things for us all. Is that true?”

“It is.” She lifted her chin.

“Hey Sis,” Xander said as he approached. “Is there a problem here?”

Xander had not referred to her as his sister at all. Now she was ‘Sis?’

She smiled at her newfound sibling, who still irritated her. “None at all. Gustav and I were plotting world domination. Want in?”

“Absolutely.” Xander slapped her on the back.

Grace gave him a sideways glance.

“Siblings,” Gustav clapped. “Marvelous. How did I not see this before?”

“Gustav, before we talk business, there is someone I would very much like for you to meet.” Grace waved Michelle over. “This, is my mother.”

Gustav’s face curved up into a smile. He held out his hand. “Of course you are! The pleasure, is mine.”

When she put her hand in his, he kissed the back of it.

“Gustav, I haven’t seen you in ages.” Michelle kissed his cheek.

He turned to Grace. “We shall discuss business later. First, I have to catch up with my old friend.”

Grace glanced back and forth between them. “I didn’t realize you two were acquainted.”

Xander and Grace glanced at each other, then back to Gustav and their mother.

“Did you know?” Grace asked him.

“That Mom was a friend to the vampires? No. I did not.” He scratched his head. “I don’t even remember her mentioning vampires to me…like at all…ever.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “So it appears there’s more to our mother than meets the eye.”

He elbowed her in the ribs. “Seems like it runs in the family. I hear your wolf is like…huge.”

She winked. “Enormous.”

“Damn.”

“What? Don’t want a duel?” She teased.

He shook his head. “I’d like to keep my hide thanks.”

The ground started to shake. The sound, like a thousand horses stampeding overwhelmed everyone in attendance.

Several Lycans shifted. Grace stayed in her human form. She didn’t feel any sense of danger, only apprehension.

Finally, through the woods, they came. Centaurs.

“Shit!” Xander spat.

.